Sign



Oct. 19, 1937. E. REGISTER 2,096,406

SIGN

Filed Aug. 26, 1936 Patented Oct. 19, 1937 PATENT OFFICE.

SIGN

Everett L. Register,Springfield, Ill., assignor to Reflection Corporation of America, Springfield, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 26, 1936, Serial No. 97,927

4 Claimsl.

This invention relates to signs, and particularly reflector or illuminated signs adapted for use along highways or the like, and wherein the illumination is produced by reflected lights from outside the sign either by daylight or by artificial light, as, for example, the headlights of motor vehicles, or other lights projected thereon.

One object of the kpresent invention is 'to provide a no-vel construction and arrangement of elements comprising letters, numerals, symbols or other indicia constituting a sign of the character described in which parts may be assembled or made up in stock, and then these assemblies combined as required to produce the iinishedjsign.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and effective means for securing letters, numerals or other indicia to a suitable mounting or support.r

` Another object of the invention is to provide means'for protecting the light-reflecting material or portions against disintegration and destruction due to weather conditions to which the sign is exposed.

A still further object of the invention is to improve devices of the character described in sundry details hereinafter referred to and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

One. embodiment of the present invention is shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved sign embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan sectional View through a letter andportion of the support therefor illustrated in Fig. 1, and taken substantially as indicated by the line 2 2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, and taken substantially as indicated by the line 3 3 thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the manner of securing a letter, numeral, symbol or other indicia on a support or mounting.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing comprises a plurality of letters KVor units, indicated generally by the numeral 5, adapted to be mounted on a support 6 in suitable manner to provide various indications 0r other matter, each of the letters, as shown in the drawing, comprising a body, indicated as a whole by the numeral 1, and formed, preferably, of transparent material such as glass or the like, and preferably havinga roughened light-diffusing face portion 8 and a smooth rear side portion to which a metallic coating 9, such, for example, as silver or the like, is applied to provide a light reflecting surface on the rear side of the body 1.

Over the coating 9 and around the edge portions of the body is applied a coating of cementitious material II, such, for example, as a heavy bodied paint, asphalt or ordinary cement or the equivalent for protecting the silver or reflecting surface from scratching during the manufacture as Well as from the effects of weather conditions to which the sign may be subjected, and which otherwise might tend to tarnish or cause disintegration of the silver or other reflecting material and eventually destroy the eiciency of the sign.

The coating II serves to assist in securing a backing member or plate I2 of substantially rigid construction, preferably metal, to the body, and also to secure metallic edge covering strips I3 to the edge portions of the body, the strips I3 being 0f substantially U-shaped cross-section having portions overlying the front and rear faces, respectively, of the body 'I and backing member I2 and secured to the plate as hereinafter described.

For securing the letters 5 to the support or mounting 6, which is preferably of metal, the backing member I2 may be provided with one or more studs I4 formed, preferably, of solder, copper or other suitable weather resisting material adapted to be positioned and secured in apertures I5 formed in the plate E, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. It is thus a simple matter to assemble and secure the desired combination of letters or symbols on the plate 6, and when thus secured, a durable structure is produced.

For further securing the letters or characters as well as protecting the silver or other light-reflecting material from deterioration or destruction due to weather conditions, and preventing the admission of moisture between the plate 5 and backing member I2, each of the letters 5 after being positioned on the support 6 is provided adjacent its marginal portions adjacent the support with a let I6 of solder or the like. The strip I3 forms an attractive border about the letter and prevents diffusing of the reflected light through the edges of the glass, which would tend to partially illuminate the face of the plate 6.

By reference to Figs. l and 2, it will be noted f that the units or letters shown therein are each made up of a plurality of transparent glass elements 1a, which may be of suitable size and form, and which may be properly assembled to produce various letters, numerals or other indicia, the

construction of the letter or other indicia in the manner described contributing materially to economy in the cost of manufacture of signs em-v bodying letters of the character described and assembledV in the manner herein set forth.

It Will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a novel, durable and eiiicient sign construction of the light-reflectingtype, wherein the reflecting material is effectu'allyA protected at all times, and Wherein novel means are provided for securing the letters, numerals, symbols, or otherindicia to a suitable mounting or support. The plate or support 6 may be stiffened by flanges I8 if desired and the sign mounted on a post i9 or its equivalent.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described as the same may be variouslyvmodied Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the ap" pended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sign, the combination of a letter and support therefor, said lett/er comprising a body of transparent material having a smooth surface on its rear side and a light-diffusing surface on its front side, a metallic coating on said body having a light-reecting surface adjacent the rear face thereof, a cementitious material covering said coating, a substantially rigid backing member overlying said cementitious materiah a cover stri-p overlying the edges of said body member and cementitious material, means operatively related to said backing member for securing said letter to said support, and sealing means adjacent the abutting portions Yof said strip and support.

2. In a sign, the combination of a letter and support therefor, said support having apertures therein, said letter comprising a body of transparent material having a smooth rear face, a coating of light-reflecting material on said rear face adjacent said body, a cementitious material covering the back of said reflecting material, a substantially rigid backing member overlying said cementitious material, a covering strip adjacent the edges of said body, cementitious material and backing member, and overlying a portion of the respective front and rear surfaces of said body and backing member, and means onv said backing member engaging the apertures in said support for securing said letterthereto.Y

3. In a sign, the combination of va letter and support therefor, said support having apertures therein, said letter comprising a body of trans-` parent glass having a smooth surface on its rear side and a light-diffusing surface Yon itsl front side, a metallic 4coating on said body having a light-reflecting surface adjacent the rear face of said body, a cement covering on said coating, a substantially rigid backing member overlying said cement, a cover strip of substantially U-shaped cross-section overlying the edges of said body, metallic coating, cement and backing member and extending over a portion of the respective front and rear surfaces of said body and 'backing `member, means projecting from said Vbacking member engaging the apertures in said support for securing said letter` thereto, and sealing means around said letter adjacent the abutting portions of said strip and support.

4. A sign letter comprising a body formed of a plurality of transparent glass velements having smooth surfaces in their rear sides and light-diffusing surfaces on their front sides, a metallic coating on each of said elements having a lightreflecting surface adjacent the rear side ofthe elements, a cement covering on said coating, a il' substantially rigid backing member overlying the cement and all of said body elements, a cover strip of substantially U-shaped cross-section surrounding the outer edges of said elements, cement and backing member and extending over a portion of the respective front and rear surfaces of said body elements and backing member.

EvEaET'r L.,.REG'1sTER. 

